Overhead-track switch



- A. H. NELLER.

OVERHEAD TRACK SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1919.

l l llllxrllllm l/VVEN TOR.

lL I ATTORNEY fication.

UNITED STA E A EN ALBERT H. KELLER, or rernrinnn, revere, ASSIGNGR 'ro nounnn MACHINERY COMPANY, or rArarIELn-Iowe, s eonroiae'rron or IOWA.

, ovnnnnanrnaex swrron.

Patented Ma. 9.1920.

Application filed November 14, 1919. Serial No. 338,035.

Be itknown that I, ALBERT a citizen of the United States, residing at Fa-irfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Overhead-Track Switches, of which the following is a speci- My invention relates to that class of overhead. track switches which are constructed with a portable frame which can be mounted in position without having to assenible'the constituent parts of the switch, and it consists of an lmprovenient 1n the construction" and arrangement of theparts as herein described and asset forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of th1s spec1ficat1on,F1gure l is a perspective of an overhead track swltch enibodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sec-tlon on llne 22 of Fig. 1.' Figs. 3 and e. are enlarged detail views which will be hereafter explained.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a pair of metallic bars, preferably angular in cross section, which are joined together at their ends by castings B and C. The

casting B 1s considerably narrower, or

shorter laterally, than. the casting G, whereby the bars A willbe held at an angle. to each other. The casting B is provided with a central upwardly arched body which is extendedlongitudinally of theswitch frarne and has a series of holesD which are preterably elongated, and are als disposed longitudinally in relation to the switch frame. The casting C is provided with an outwardly extended flange C which is set in a plane higher than the body of the casting, and

in this flange there are a seriesof preferably elongated holes E,the flange and the holes therein being slightly curved and dis posed at approximately'right angles to the side bars A.

The bars A and castings B and C forin a frame for the switch mechanism which is connected to an overhead support, such as the ceiling of a building, (not shownyin drawings) by bolts or screws oassedthrough some of the holes l) and E. vThese two series of holes being disposed atapproxi- .mately right angles 'to each otherfthe switch frame may be readily adjusted-to obtain proper bearings'for the bolts to connect the frame-to its overhead support. The

H, NELLER,

{adjacent ends of the bars A, and inthese holes bolts G are inserted to join the ends of the bars to the casting B. Innnediately below the casting B is a hanger H havinga bifurcated upper end and twolaterally extended flanges each having a hole through which the bolts G are also passed, thus con- I nesting the hanger H, the casting B and the adjoining ends of the bars A together.

I represents a portionof a track-rail for w an elevated'carrier to run upon, having its adjacent end connected tothe hanger H in the usual manner, the remaining portions of the traclerail to be supported in pos i tion. in any suitable mannerknown to the art. J represents a switch section of the track-rail which is connected to the main track section I, as shown in Fig. '1, by a hinge coupling K. The other end of the switch section is slidably connected to the casting G, by means of a track hanger L attached to a switch casting M provided with a flange N adapted to catch over and slide on a rib O on-the castingC. The hanger L is substantially the same as thehanger H, with the exception ot the hinge K, and is connected to the casting M by bolts passed through its upper bifurcated ends. The casting M is provided with a spring actuated bolt P having its adjacent end adapted to catch in a notch'a in the rib or flange O, and thushold the castiaigz in position to-bring the switch section-J in. line with one of the branch tracks Q,

andv prevent it from sliding on therib or flangelO. Two or more branch tracks Q may be used, the casting C'being made of sediment length to accommodate them, and

. the casting being provided with a notch a for each of the tracks, so that the switch section'inay be held in the proper position .to connect with each of the branch tracks.

The adjacent ends of the branch tracks Q. are connected to the casting C by hangers having bolts 7) passed through'their'upper ends and through holes in the castina'C, the

" other portions of the branch tracks being eye for the trip cord .V.

y will cause the latch bolt P connected, but detached from downward so the eye where supported by any suitable means known to the art. S represents stop devices to prevent a carrier from running off the end of the branch track when disconnected from the switch section, the stop being lifted out of the way'of the carrier when connected with theswitch section, as already known in the art.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the casting C showing its connection with the bars A, and the switch casting M, but not showing the branch tracks Q or the stop devices S. Also showing the heads of the bolts Z) connecting the hangers R to the casting C. The adjacent ends of the side bars i are connected to outer portions of the ca ting C by bolts cl. These portions of the casting C are preferably provided w th flanges c which embrace the lower corners of th opposite sides of the adjoining ends of the side bars A, and will hold them more rigidly in position.

The outer end of the latch bolt P is passed through a hole in an upturned flange or lug T on the outer portion of the switch casting M, and its inner end is passed through an opening in a central portion of the casting immediately under the inner edge of the liange N so it will be free to enter the notches a in the rib O, and to be withdrawn therefrom. The latch bolt 1 is operated by means of a trip U which is pivoted to an inner portion of the latch bolt by a. bolt or rivet Fig. 4 is a View of the under side of the tripU with a portion of the trip cord V the latch bolt. It consists essentially of a laterally extend ing portion, pivoted to the latch bolt in its center, and provided on its extremities with downwardly extended ioints g, and tun outwardly extending side portions 7:, joined together at their outer ends so to form an In its normal position the points 9 will rest against the edges of the flange N, but a pull on the trip cord on one side will cause the point on the opposite side to move from the flange h and slide on the adjacent side at of the switch casting M until it comes in contact with the adjacent stop 2'. This to be withdrawn from its engagement with the adjacent notch in the rib O, and the switch casting will be free to slide along therib O carrying with it the adjacent end tion J until it connects with another branch track. -A pull on the trip cord in the opposite direction will reverse the operation.

' The outer portion of the trip U is bent attached will be below the corresponding portion of the switch casting M and also the outer end of the latch bolt P. This arrangement brings it in 1111s with away the trip cord is small guide pulleys N which are connected to the lower edges of the side bars These pulleys are used to guide the trip cords in the proper direction to reach the operator. The lines V in Fig. 1 indicate the usual direction in which the trip cords are disposed.

r'ts'arranged only a single cord is necessary. A central portion of the cord is doubled in a loop which is passec. through the eye, as shown in Fig.

or bolt a member X to the central portions of the side bars so as to stand at approximately right angles thereto. The central. portion of the member X is'made essentially in the form of a lineal bar. I fasten a track hanger Y to the switch section directly below this member. The upper end of the hanger is adaptedto catch over and slide on the central portion of the member as the switch se on is being moved from one position to another. this means the central portion of the switch section will be supported by the side bars of the switch frame, and, at the same time, i; will be free to be moved from one position to another.

As shown in the drawing, the hanger is provided with a loop Z which surrounds the central portion of the member X and is free to slide thereon. The central upper edge of the member X is preferably rounded in cross section to lit the curve of the loop, while its lower edge is extended down in the form of a rib to give it greater strength. The ends of the member are preferably flattened for attachment to the side bars A.

What I claim is:

1. in overhead track switches having a portable frame, the combination of a pair of side-bars, a casting at each end of the bars having portions with a series of holes therein for suspending bolts, in a plane ings, and means to connect the ends the side bars to the castings. o1 the switch sec- 2. In overhead track switcheshaving a portable frame, the combination of a pair of side-bars,- a casting at each end of the bars having portions with a series of holes therein for suspending bolts, set in a plane higher than the other oortions of the castings, said portions with the holes therein hein horizontallv dis osed at an an de to each other, and means LO connect the ends of the side-bars to the castings;

liltl of sidebars, a casting at r ,3. In overhead track switches having 3 a' portable frame, the'con'ibination of a pair each end of the bars h. ving portions with aseries or-holes there in if r suspending bolts, set in a plane higher than the other portions of the castings, means to connect the ends of the side-barsto the castings soas to tcrm a portable frame, and main and branch tracks with a cooperating switch section connected to said frame.

4;. In a device oi the character described,

afportable frame consisting of side bars.

joined together near their ends, main and branch tra clrs with a cobperating switch section connected to said frame, and a support attached to a central portion of the switch section, and connected to a central portion of the switch frame and adapted to slide thereon.

5. In a device of the character described,

branch tracks with a eobperating switch section connected to said frame, a cross barcon- 1 nected' to a. central portion of the sidebars,

and a hanger connected to a central portion of the switch section, said hanger having a loop atits upperend adapted .to catch over and slide on the cross bar. 7 r

7.7 In a device of the character described,

a main track, a plurality of branch tracks,

a switch sectionconnected to the main track and adapted to aline with either of the branch tracks, a frame casting to which the adjoining ends of the branch tracks are connected, a switch casting adapted to slide on the frame casting and to which the free end ofthe switch section is connected, a spring actuated latch. bolt carried by the switch ting and trame casting, and a trip, centrally connected to thelatch bolt, mounted on the switch. castings, said trip having downwardly projecting ends adapted to be moved on the switch casting whereby the latch bolt may be released.- from the frame casting.

8.111 a device of the character described, a main track, a'switch section connected to the main track and adapted to aline with either of the adapted to connect with theplurality of branch tracks,

branch'tracks, a frame casting to which the adjoining ends of the branch tracks -are connected, a switch casting adapted to slide on the frame casting and to which the free end of theswitchvsection is connected, a spring actuated :latch bolt carried by the switch casting and adapted to connect with the frame castlng, and a trip, centrally connected to; the latch bolt, mounted on the switch casting, said trip having downwardly projecting ends adapted to be moved a on the switch casting, andstops thereonto contact with the projecting ends, of the trip, whereby the latch bolt may be released from the frame castings, and the-tree end of the switch section may be moved from one branch track to another.

9. In a device of the characterdescribed;

a main track, a pluralityof branch tracks, a sw tch sectionconnected to the main track branch tracks, a frame casting to which the and adapted to aline with] either of the 1 adjoining ends of the branch tracks are con- I nected, a switch casting adapted to slide on the frame casting and to which the'free end of the switch section is connected,aspring actuated latchbolt carried by the switch casting and adapted to connect with the frame-casting, and a trip, centrally con nected to the latch bolt, mounted 0n the switch castings, and adapted to be moved thereon to release thelatch. bolt from the frame casting, the outer end of said trip being bent down under the outer ends of the switch casting and the latch bolt and i, joined together to form a connection for atrip cord. 7 V i 10. In a device of the character described,

a maintrack, a plurality ofbranch tracks, a switch section connected to the main track and adapted to aline with either-of the branch tracks, a frame castingto which the adj oiningendsof the branch tracks are con- I nected, a switch casting adapted to slide on the frame casting and to which the'free end of the switch section is connected, a spring actuated latch bolt carried by, the switch castingand adapted to connect with the .ttrame eastin and a trip, centrally con-1.

nected to the latch bolt, mounted on the switchcastings, and adapted to be moved thereon to release the latch bolt from the frame casting, the outer end of said trip being bent down under the outer ends of the switch casting and the latch 'bolt and being oined togetherto form an eye for the 1n sertion of a loop of a trip cord, and a, prong over which the. loop of the trip cord is placed. i

Fairfiehhlowa, Nov. 12, 1919.

ALBERT n. NELLER. 

